6 Reasons on why is Indian Television an Idiot box forever?

Idiot box, popularly known as Television, often makes us sit for hours only to realise that we have wasted our time. Sometimes, we do find educational things and entertainment as well, but most of the times we just have finger fetish over the remote control of our TV. With thousands of channels we are just changing them to find if there is something that will interest us. Our attention to things is short lived and we can't even stand the commercial breaks played on television. An Indian television is no different. Just count on the number of times, you sat for a long duration watching actually nothing that's meant to stay with you forever. Lets talk about how Indian Television is an Idiot box now and forever, unless we actually have God descending on earth telling us "Ab bas Karo!" (Now, stop it!")

1. Never ending soap operas:

These serials like the one above have lasted for years like oh sorry, I've lost the count. Serials like this have made us think "Kyunki hum bhi kabhi bachhe the". The stories were far too stretched to such an extent that they have become unbelieveable. 

2. The Melodrama:

The melodrama that these serials offer is commendable. Often, we will find reappearaaces post deaths and deaths again and again reappearances or re-births. No wonder, India has been a place of Gods and a land of miracles. The melodrama is supported by over the top background scores that bore us time and again. The cameraman too has a special job in these serials to zoom in and zoom out each of the character's face in case of a catastrophic event (in these serials, any truth or conspiracy revealed or even marriage is a catastrophic event!) You will also find saree clan women with full on make up at the middle of the night. Wow! It seems like normal people are always badly dressed.

3. The debates on news channels (Or are they really debates?)

The debates are more like wars than debates. We've high regards for journalists specially those who have a strong opinion and are fearless. But, in their debates, sometimes the only one speaking is they themselves. They should only be the convenor. But their opinion building nature makes them come to conclusions themselves. Media be it TV or print, has many a times, arrived at judgements even before the actual jury came out with its judgement. This is like playing politics and changing stance according to populist views. In addition, we find news channels playing one big news the whole day long. And, the sad part is, for TRPs sake, every channel showcases the same thing.

4. The Food Channels:

No offence to the food lovers. This point in not just for Indian Television but for the TV in general. One can watch different sports whole day or even a long match. One can watch travel shows, history shows, discovery shows because story is different. But one thing that seem to quiz me is that who can watch food channel the whole day or so? Even if the food item is different, food is still food. What else can you prepare other than starters, main course, street food or deserts or soups? TV has surely become an Idiot box with food channels.

5. Repeated Movies (Evergreen movies? Huh!)

Many of the channels show repeated movies on their channels so much so that the movies have become synonymous with channel's name. I read a facebook post recently "I'm watching IPL on Suryavansham Channel!". Channels are meant to entertain but they have started boring us like those soaps. These movies have become a legend overtime.

6. Reality Shows

We understand that for a talented person, performing on TV would be the biggest form of appreciation. However, too many reality shows on singing, dancing, adventure e.t.c. have made us feel most of the content on these shows is already seen. We're too bored with the same format, different seasons and same lines quoted by the judges.

So, how the future is being hit?

Television might become a story of the past with Internet media eating up its audience. The branding that Internet together has in line with the young audience is far ahead of Television. Start ups like Scoopwhoop, Storypick are becoming a rage with millions of subscribers. While television sought for a different channel for each type of interests, these channels are "one stop destination" for all kind of news, enterntainment. Young people especially those on laptops are switching from TV to these channels. You hit a like and follow on facebook and Twitter and you needn't switch their channel. They will come to you. There is no time constraint on them. It provides users with flexibility.

 They have become popular even with articles which have new edge over the traditional print media. They have recognised the taste of Indian Audience very well. They have even taken care of the short attention span with articles not very long and most of them in points format. They reveal the number of points in the title itself. They have changed the writing style of most bloggers with many of us, now writing in points format

 The kind of branding that they are doing is something amazing to study for. In coming years, we might find a case study or more on their success in the management schools. Most importantly for now, it comes free with Internet subscription. So, what more can you ask for? You want humor, sports, news, food or anything, just go for it.